Published: 2022
Series: n/a
Genres: Christmas, Romance, Young Adult, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Chick Lit
Grade Levels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Warnings: some racism, threat of losing livelihood, family feuds
Goodreads Link: The Christmas Clash
Publisher’s Summary:
“Who’s naughty and nice at Riverwood Mall? In this hilarious holiday rom-com, two rivals get together to save their families’ livelihoods, and Christmas, too!
Chloe Kwon can’t stand Peter Li. It’s always been that way. Their families don’t get get along either, their parents operate rival restaurants in the Riverwood Mall food court, Korean food for the Kwons and Chinese food for the Lis. Now it’s the holiday season and Chloe’s the photographer at the mall’s Santa Land, and Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole experience right across the atrium. It’s all Chloe can do to avoid Peter’s smug, incredibly photogenic face.
But it turns out the mall is about to be sold to a developer and demolished for condos. Eviction notices are being handed out right before Christmas. Their parents don’t know what to do, and soon Chloe and Peter realize that the two of them need to join efforts to try to save the mall. Just when it seems like they can put aside their differences and work closely, very closely, together, they discover that the Kwon and Li feud goes far deeper than either of them realize…”
Review:
The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park is a warm and genuinely funny Young Adult holiday romance that hits all the right notes for a festive recommendation. I wholeheartedly recommend this title, especially to librarians looking for a high demand, feel good story for teens who enjoy enemies to lovers tropes, contemporary YA romance, and narratives featuring AAPI protagonists and strong family dynamics. The story follows two Korean American high school students, Lina and Wesley, whose families own rival restaurants in a mall food court. The feud intensifies when an eviction notice threatens both their livelihoods just weeks before Christmas, leading to a secret collaboration and undeniable chemistry that makes this a great read. Major themes include the importance of family and community, navigating the stress of economic insecurity, forgiveness, and finding love. From a collection development standpoint, the book offers excellent opportunities for curricular connections, serving as a great anchor for discussions on diversity in literature, the Korean American experience, and socioeconomic topics like gentrification and small business challenges. A fun programming tie in would be a Taste of the Clash event inspired by the fantastic descriptions of the food. The book’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, with cultural elements intrinsically woven into the plot. While there are no illustrations, the cover is bright and attractive, ensuring it will move quickly off the shelves. Teens will love the sharp humor, relatable stakes, and festive setting. For colleagues interested in more from the author, I also highly recommend Suzanne Park’s other witty and culturally relevant titles, such as Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous and The Do Over.
